This yarn. Can you guess which one I chose? (Hint - not the thyme green color.) The yarn was gone in an hour during the Etsy sale so I was very glad I let myself think with my heart instead of my brain. Works every time. I am making the sojourn to the mecca of all yarn stores tomorrow - WEBS. On a bus with 50 other knitting women - pure heaven for me! Then, probably a baseball game tomorrow night and some low-key family time. I hope you enjoy your weekend, wherever you are.

July 29, 2010

Recently we had strawberry guava smoothies for dessert. I remember trying my first guava juice in Kaua'i when I was a kid and it is the most wonderful taste in the world, fruit-wise. (I have to keep chocolate, French truffles, good cognac, wonderful coffee etc. in different categories.) So, here's to summer, and don't forget the marshmallow!

Guava Strawberry Smoothies (no exact measurements - just throw it all in the blender)

Half a can of guava nectar

1/3 bag of frozen strawberries - fresh if you have them

2 handfuls of ice cubes

Some milk (maybe a cup - I just sloshed it in)

Tablespoon of honey from the farmer's market (makes me feel so totally virtuous and makes up for the frozen strawberries which were probably imported from New Zealand, expending immense amount of fossil fuels and ripping giant holes in the ozone over Rhode Island, just so my rugrats weren't forced to have a squishy brown banana or - God forbid - deep fried Twinkies - for dessert .)

July 28, 2010

Last night we had what Juniorette calls a Brinner - breakfast for dinner. We had eggs, bacon, and toast - all on the front lawn by the street since we are sans a real backyard. They simply didn't do this in Ireland when Husband was growing up and I think he was kind of mortified, but a good sport. He probably thought people would think we didn't own a table.

We must have looked pretty funny, too, since Junior insisted on wearing his red star glasses for the entire meal and kept putting scrambled egg in his Scooby Doo Mystery Machine and eating it. I mean, if you want to sound like really bitchy parents, simply state firmly, if a bit loudly, " STOP eating egg out of your Mystery Machine! RIGHT NOW!" (Brief nod and smile to the nice family walking by, none of whose twelve children in tow eats egg off out of a Mystery Machine.) In fact, they probably all enjoy a nice natural unflavored yogurt for dessert every night. Like, out of bowls and with spoons.

It was hot, uncomfortable and not at all relaxing but somehow fun. One simply cannot underestimate bacon's ability to elevate a meal to a new level.

July 26, 2010

This Summer porch caught my eye on this hot July day. The glossy blue room looks like it's waiting for me to relax with a nice guava smoothie and some knitting or a book. I'm currently reading this and designing a cardigan for fall, but not in a pretty periwinkle room with oodles of cushions on the floor. Perhaps it's time to start painting, although I'd really like to save serious changes for our permanent abode.

July 21, 2010

When I got home yesterday, sweaty-ravenous-squabbling kids in tow, there was a beautiful package waiting for me in the mailbox behind all the bills and announcements of boring meetings that have nothing to do with knitting or wallpapering stuff. It was wrapped in fuchsia paper with a picture of pink roses! What a good feeling to have a surprise like that, completely unexpected, finding it's way into my hands when I most could use it.

I opened it up and there was the painting of the vintage Fisher Price little person that I had posted last week from artist friend Margaret. I was so surprised and touched as I really loved this painting and she knew it. I'll have to find a special place to put it, where I can see it every day and be reminded of my sweet and uber-talented friend. Thank you so much, Margaret. XxOO.

July 20, 2010

Here we are back with the second installment of Junior Complains that there are no Decent Pants for Three Year Olds if You're a Guy. Everything is brown and navy with occasional orange. Khaki, lost of khaki. Camouflage is big, but polka dots (what he requested) are not. I just can't take the complaining any longer. I decided to do orange squirrels as knee patches on striped fabric. Have you ever used this stuff? It's great. Draw something on it, stick it to fabric, cut it out, then iron it on and it's permanently affixed.

I just couldn't do the polka dots even though he begged (seriously, he begged and almost threw a temper tantrum because his sister gets polka dots.) Anyway, he seems pretty happy, doesn't he? Who knew a pair of orange knee squirrels would make the kid so psyched?! Husband, what do you think about a father/son pair of trous - okay, sorry. I'll drop it. ; )

July 19, 2010

This is Juniorette's sandwich for camp tomorrow. I thought it looked so pretty in its container that I had to take a picture. I can't wait to hear what she thinks when she opens her lunchbox.

Do you ever have those days where you feel like you've done nothing, but not a good, relaxing nothing? That's how I felt today: Slow and stagnant like the hot and stuffy weather. Yet, when I list out the things that I did, I see that it really was a quality day, albeit low key, spent with family. Husband and I had a leisurely coffee in bed after waking up. I took Juniorette to the flea market where we drank large frozen lemonades in the hot sun. Later, we made drawstring bags with Junior and read to him. They played school and Barbies (remember Junior's Ken doll that he named Jesus, or did I not mention that?) and Husband and I hung out. We made a curry for dinner and then cut up a bunch of strawberries and sprinkled sugar on top, the perfect dessert for a hot summer night. I sent Husband out to play golf for the evening. Did some knitting, and some tidying up.

I'll omit the part where Junior phoned four people on my cell phone, peed on the floor by my fabric, refused to brush his teeth, dismantled my ear buds and threw his sister's favorite stuffed animal into the garbage. He had a really hard night after Husband busted him for sneaking a lollipop and then lying about it. Try teaching a three year old the difference between lying and telling the truth over a Tootsie Pop. Cut your losses, Honey - I'm sure five minutes in the Naughty Chair was worth every last lick of that confection.

Before bed I read Betsy and Tacey to Juniorette, which I also loved when I was young. The sounds of crickets and the ceiling fan were a pleasant backdrop to the summer night but Junior couldn't sleep and asked me to come snuggle with him. We both fell asleep in the sticky hot air, his head in the crook of my arm, the Buzz Lightyear reading light still on and attached to Goodnight Moon. A quality day, as much for its banality as its small joys.

July 16, 2010

This photograph is from the website of Rosehip who does the most beautiful quilting, crocheting and sewing. Have a look at her work - I'm sure you, too, will be inspired. I would love to have such yarn collection, wouldn't you? All that red and pink is so pretty to my eye. Enjoy your weekend, everyone!

July 14, 2010

Just a little shawl I recently knitted. I love the deep color with the bits of dark pink thrown in. Cashmere and merino wool - not great for taking photos in 100 degree heat but in a few months I'm sure I'll be wrapped up next to the fire, holding a snifter of Courvoisier as I gaze at my perfectly behaved children taking turns turns at the backgammon table.

July 13, 2010

These are Juniorette's new shoes, to accompany dresses and skirts. A girl always needs a pair of "go to" shoes that are neutral, practical and will match most everything in her closet. I'm trying to instill this philosophy in her and I was quite proud of the versatile and classic selection she made. She actually asked if I'd put them up on Casapinka which delighted me to no end. Now, if we could just get Husband/Daddy to agree to a matching couch...